A few years ago I bought an Acer Desktop Laptop that I loved. It actually had a "Full 17" Screen" (Not Wide), used a 3.5" HDD and deskto CPU for incredible performance from a laptop and with that came a hefty weight and an enormous 190watt external Power supply.

There in lied the problem.

Acer stopped selling my Model laptop in the US but kept selling it new in Europe. When the stopped selling it in the US, the ceased importing the Power Supplies to the US and they tended to overheat and need replacements.

I could not order one directly from Acer. They would not even ship me one from their European division with me paying whatever the cost.

I don't feel ACER views the US as a primary market and I would rather go with a company that will not abandon it's commitments here.

If your outside the States.
I got an Apire 5502 notebook. Pentium-M, X700 video, 14" wide-screen, Super-Multi DVD -RW, Wifi/Bluetooth, 1 gig DDR2 RAM, 80 gig drive, (now running Vista Business Aero) etc.
A LOT of power in a small package for back then.
Cost me ~$1000 2 years ago!, in Thailand! Bought in an Acer store (imagine that!)

The only Con is it gets hot without good ventilation and the screen is reflective in sunlight.
I think the U.S. Model only had the GMA 900.
All the parts seem standard, but the notebook can't/won't be serviced in California.

I would buy Acer again (outside the States)